Acknowledgements
This report was written jointly by Jane Buchanan, Human Rights Watch researcher for the Europe and Central Asia Division, Giorgi Gogia, Caucasus researcher, Tanya Lokshina, deputy director of the Moscow office, Anna Neistat, senior researcher for the Emergencies Division, and Ole Solvang, consultant for the Europe and Central Asia Division. It was edited by Rachel Denber, acting director of the Europe and Central Asia Division. Jane Buchanan, Giorgi Gogia, Tanya Lokshina, Anna Neistat, Ole Solvang, as well as Marc Garlasco, senior military analyst for the Emergencies Division, Bonnie Docherty, researcher for the Arms Division, and Alexander Mnatsakanyan, a researcher with Demos, a Russian nongovernmental organization, conducted the research for this report. Alexander Cherkasov, researcher with the Memorial Human Rights Centre in Moscow, provided additional assistance on a field mission. Background research was conducted by Sasha Petrov, consultant for the Europe and Central Asia Division, Tatyana Cooper, Sonya Kleshik, Kathryn Koonce, associates in the Europe and Central Asia Division, Ksenia Khmeleva, intern in the Emergencies Division, and Cosima Schultz von Siemens, intern in the Europe and Central Asia Division.
The report was reviewed by Aisling Reidy, senior legal advisor, and Ian Gorvin, senior program officer at Human Rights Watch. Parts were also reviewed by Veronika Szente Goldston, advocacy director of the Europe and Central Asia Division, Liesl Gerntholtz, director of the Women's Rights Division, and Steve Goose, director of the Arms Division.
Production assistance was provided by Veronica Matushaj, Anna Lopriore, Grace Choi, and Fitzroy Hepkins. The translation of the report was prepared by Igor Gerbich.
The photos in the report were taken by Human Rights Watch researchers as well as Marcus Bleasdale.
Human Rights Watch expresses its sincere gratitude to the many individuals who shared their stories with us, and hope that it will lead to an increased understanding of the events and how civilians were affected.